of how we stand up our defenses in the united states to protect our country from nation states like china and russia and now iran who seek to do us harm by using the internet. we will again aggressively pursue next year, with the help of my ranking member, actions needed, i believe, to protect the united states against what is the largest threat we face that we are not prepared to handle and that is the growing threat of cyberattack and cyberespionage. countering the profe live ration of weapons of mass destruction -- proliferation of weapons of mass destruction is an important part of our national security and we made sure that weapons and tests, research and development of new technology to maintain our intelligence agencies' technologically edge, and like the house-passed bill, this bill operates efficiencies in a number of areas, including information technology. satellite data and the procurement and operation of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms. the bill holds personnel levels, one of the first and largest biggest cost drivers, generally at last year's levels.